Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
DAVIS COUNTY -- A West Point couple suffered serious injuries when a truck came crashing through their bedroom wall Wednesday night.
Sheriff's officials have arrested two drivers involved in the crash, who may have been street racing.
Deputies say around 7 p.m., two trucks -- a blue Dodge Dakota and a silver Dodge Ram -- were speeding south on 2000 West when a pickup truck hauling a fifth-wheel trailer pulled into traffic in an attempt to make a left-hand turn.
"Witnesses at the scene say there was only like two feet separation between the first vehicle and the second vehicle," said Lt. Brad Wilcox with the Davis County Sheriff's Office.
Cameron Scott, the driver of the Dakota, crashed directly into the trailer, smashing it to pieces. Dustin McLaughlin, who was driving the Ram, tried to swerve out of the way.
"The silver truck tried to avoid the accident, came across here and careened right into the house," said Sgt. Dan Yeaman with the Davis County Sheriff's Office.
Andrew and Lauren Brown, who lived in the house near 550 North and 2000 West, had just gotten into bed for the evening when the truck smashed through their bedroom wall and came to a stop about four feet into the room.
"The room's totally destroyed. The bed they were lying in flipped like that," said Lauren's father Brad Adams.
The impact threw Andrew Brown into the front room. He landed a foot away from where his 9-month-old twin sons were resting. Neither boy was hurt. Lauren Brown hit the dresser.
Deputies say when the truck hit the house, it sent debris flying through the bedroom. They couldn't confirm whether the truck actually landed on the bed where the couple was lying.
Carl and JoAnn Thurgood were in Wyoming when they got a disturbing phone call. Someone had crashed a pickup truck into a house that they own and were renting to a young couple. On Thursday, the Thurgoods returned to Utah to survey the damage.
"I can't believe that it went that far into that house and didn't really kill somebody," Carl Thurgood said.
Andrew Brown was flown to McKay Dee Hospital in critical condition with leg and chest injuries. He was upgraded to fair condition Thursday afternoon. Lauren Brown suffered injuries to her head and hip and was taken to McKay Dee by ambulance in serious condition. She was later released from the hospital.
"At the speed that they estimate he was traveling when he hit that house, it's a wonder that either one of them got out of that bedroom," said JoAnn Thurgood.
The three drivers involved in the crash suffered only minor injuries.
Scott and McLaughlin were arrested Wednesday night on charges of reckless driving and exhibition of speed. Both trucks have been impounded. The driver of the truck pulling the trailer, Henry Kidd, was cited for failure to yield.
"They need to realize their actions have consequences," Adams said. "They need to be more responsible. It's crazy."
According to the police report, Scott's truck had a black box. The data showed the truck was going 70 miles an hour when he slammed on the brakes and 40 miles an hour at impact.
The house may be a total loss. Black plastic now covers a large portion of the building and Carl Thurgood said the impact knocked the small house off its foundation by about five to six inches. Still, he said houses can be replaced.
Adams says too many drivers go faster than the 45-miles-an-hour speed limit. He says nine years ago a car hit the home, but the damage wasn't as bad.
"It's somewhat of a major thoroughfare," Adams said. "There's too many people around here now and too much traffic."
------
Story compiled with contributions from Shara Park, Marc Giauque and Sandra Yi.
